I've got imr4166, and some Sierra 125 gr hunter bullets. I'm looking for some info/input to get a 308 savage 11 down to a manageable level for a recoil sensitive young lady. I'm thinking we can practice with these, and load some of the nosler ballistic tips that will expand at slower fps for hunting rounds. She has shot mini 30, 223. Just not crazy bout this 308. Thanks!

Start with the starting load, which Hodgdon says will run 2800 fps with your powder. Back off a grain or so at a whack. If you start getting big spreads in velocity, you've backed down too far. Find the happy medium between recoil and consistency. If that doesn't work, find a less efficient powder so you still get adequate case fill, but lower velocities.

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I would find some H4895, I have had good luck making reduced loads with it. My wife shoot a 110 grain prohunter out of my 270 Winchester using this powder and it has no problems killing deer/hogs within normal rages.

The 4895 powders are the **go to** powders for reasonable reduced loads. As a general rule, you can go down to 60% of full power loads in a safe manner. In a .308, you're really looking at duplicating .30-30 loads. Don't forget to use fairly soft bullets at those velocities; you may even want to use the round nose .30-30 bullets, assuming ranges under 150 yards.

That said, Chad is the professional. If he says that you're gtg, then follow his suggestions.

If you want cream puff target loads use Trail Boss, which is used for sub-sonics. It is shaped liked doughnuts, so it provides good fill with light loads. Literally near zero recoil. I've used Varget with 125's and recoil is mild. Hodgdon publishes reduced loads with H4895. Do not go with cases with low fill or you risk detonation rather than burning.

To avoid "Secondary Explosion Effect" or a "Reduced-Charge Detonation (S.E.E. or R.C.D). you have to have a cartrige X% full of powder, the volume changes with caliber.You can start development from min velocity too, subsonic. But of course trajectory is completely different. https://www.loaddata.com/articles/PDF/LD-36%20Haviland%20LR.pdf

We were using Unique back in the 80's. I used to buy open partial boxes of .308 bullets to use shoot light loads in 30-30s, possum, coons, yotes, etc. Both to stay in practice and save money. I never mention it because everyone complains about it being dirty plus it is old and not the newest best powder. Young kids could shoot a winnie 94 and not cross their eyes. Noise was less and didn't upset people or animals.

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The Greatest Enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.--Stephen Hawking